Holi Colors Buying Guide: Holi, the festival of colors, brings happiness but poisonous synthetic colors available in the market can turn this fun into punishment. Bright looking colors contain dangerous chemicals like lead, mercury and acid. Which many times people are not able to recognize.

These days dark red, green and blue colors are very popular in the Holi market. But the brighter and stronger the color, the more likely it is to contain harmful chemicals. Silica and lead present in synthetic colors can cause skin irritation, eye infections and even severe allergies. Therefore, while buying a color, do not run after its brightness.

This is how to identify real gulal

It is not very difficult to identify real and natural gulal on Holi. For this you can take some simple steps.

identify by smell

Organic gulal is made from flowers, spices and herbs so it has a mild scent like sandalwood, rose or turmeric. On the contrary, synthetic colors have a pungent smell like kerosene or strong chemicals.

Holi colors (Ms. Freepik)

try mixing it in water

The original color dissolves completely in water and does not leave any residue on the surface of the vessel. If the color starts floating on the water or particles like pebbles get deposited at the bottom, then understand that it is adulterated.

texture and shine

Herbal colors are soft to touch like flour or powder and do not have glass like shine. When applied, the glow of the face remains intact.

Read the information given on the packet

In the digital age, many brands now claim to be organic. While buying colors, check the certification, ingredients and expiry date present on the packet. Try to buy gulal only from trusted shopkeepers or certified brands. It is wise to avoid purchasing loose or unlabeled colors.

Applying coconut or mustard oil on the face and hair before playing with colors acts as a protective shield. This prevents the colors from penetrating into the skin and makes them easier to remove. If color gets into the eyes, wash them immediately with clean water instead of rubbing and in serious cases contact a doctor.